megan0321

I called the BON today and got a really rude lady... again. She said it can take up to 6 weeks and I'll just have to wait. I should have mentioned that I went to nursing school in new york, only applied for a NH license when I took the NCLEX. Maybe then there's a way I can get a temporary license, like a GPN. Does anyone know if there is a time limit on how long after graduation you can get a temporary license? I graduated in NY in 2007. I really need to get working again... money is getting pretty tight.

hope everything worked out for you :)

I have worked for several years as an LPN in New Hampshire. I have recently moved to New York and have sent in my application for a NY state LPN license. The people at the Board of Nursing are pretty rude and not helpful in any way. I was wondering if anyone has applied for a New York State nursing license after being previously licensed in another state, and how long of a wait it was until the paperwork was processed and the license was granted? Also, are you sent any verification of licensure, or do you need to obsessively check the licensing website and fill in your name hoping to see yourself appear? Thanks for the help :)

A quick way to get out of an agency commitment (as long as you don't have any assignments to finish) is to tell them that you've accepted a full-time position somewhere. If you're interested in flu clinics or something simple tell them that and they will keep you on the call list. That way later down the road after you get experience you won't have burned any bridges with the agencies, you can just call them up and tell them you're available again (once the economy is better, there really are no agency assignments these days.) best of luck!

I got lots of experience doing agency work in a nursing home. However i was not a new grad and i strongly recommend that new grads NOT go agency. It's a risk to your own license. while you may get nursing home assignments that sound easy, you never know which facility, what shift, and who you'll be working with. As an agency nurse you need to be able to take charge in any situation. New grads don't have that confidence or those skills, and if they seem to they are faking it. Faking can work, sure, but it's your license to risk. Also, many facilities are now dropping agency and not using them anymore due to the economy. agency workers are expensive. That is why i myself left my agency for a full time position. keep job hunting. go to different facilities in person. lots of places don't place ads but still need more staff. drive around and meet with people in person. you'll get a steady job, guaranteed income, and most importantly- training.

I also have an interview at a methadone clinic. I'm interested to know what tasks and responsibilities an LPN has in this environment. The company coordinator told me over the phone that I will be having very little patient contact, so what exactly DO we LPNS do? Thanks for any help :) megan

I have been a nurse for two years now. I have worked in nursing homes, a pediatric office (my favorite), and for a nursing agency. My agency has run out of assignments for me (gotta love this economy) so I find myself job searching once again. I have been contacted to interview for a job in a Dermatology office. I would assume the work will be similar to when I worked in pediatrics, but with significantly less immunizations, sick kids, and screaming babies. However, I don't have much idea of what the job DOES entail. Room patients and assist with procedures? That's really my best guess. If any of you have ever worked as an LPN in Derm I would love to hear about your experiences. I have no doubt that I will be able to perform my duties, I just find myself curious to learn more about nursing in this specialty. Thanks for your help :redbeathe

First off, congratulations on making it out of the oven :) I know this isn't what you want to hear, but DO NOT sign up with an agency. Agency work is a great option to make more money for less hours, and you should definitely consider it a few years from now once you have more experience. It's a great way to make money while going back to school. However, as a new grad you will be eaten alive. I myself have two years of experience now. I have been doing agency work for the last 6 months. I cannot IMAGINE working for an agency with even one drop less of experience than I have now. Agency nurses are a rare breed. We get thrown into situations with almost no help at all. It's our job to land on our feet, manage the floor, and work as though we have worked at these facilities all our lives. Facilities that you are sent to are not there to help you. They are paying you lots of money to come in, figure it out, and do a damn good job or else. Agency work requires a lot of experience and knowledge. You lack both of these as a new grad, even if you were top of your class. Your best bet is to get a job where they will nurture you as a new nurse. Take into consideration your lack of experience and invest in you to help you grow into a more experienced nurse. Once you have worked for a few years and have really gained from it, THEN consider working for an agency. But please, I beg you.. for your own sake, DO NOT sign up for with an agency yet. You won't be happy and your license will be on the line.

UPDATE- My agency job is going great. I've learned a lot and am now very comfortable. I keep an emergency nursing book with me at all times and read it whenever i get a chance just to cover the "what if's." I have been very successful since signing with an agency and enjoy it very much. Thanks everyone for the help. Megan H

UPDATE- I started my agency position and things are working out just fine. I feel I have prepared myself very well for my assignments and all is well. Things are running very smoothly and I'm always prepared just in case things take a turn for the worse. Thanks for the advice. Megan H.

Thanks again for your words of wisdom. I will keep in mind what you said this Saturday on my first shift. I have been working the past 4 months in a clinic, and the best advice I can give to you is avoid the drama. Clinics usually have multiple physicians and health care providers. These providers usually have their own nurses assigned to them. The physicians and nurses can grow a strong bond over time and become very protective of each other. Also, the tension between nurse to nurse and doctor to doctor can flood the atmosphere with drama. So many friendships and hatreds and grudges and new people all mixed in together can get crazy. The good news though is the work is usually pretty easy. So if you stay out of the office drama and just concentrate on your work everything should work out really well for you. Clinic work is super easy, just people can be a little crazy sometimes, lol. Good luck! PS: if it's a pediatric clinic (which is where I worked) get your running shoes on and review IM and SQ injections if you are not comfortable with these. you WILL be giving 20+ vaccines a day in peds. Best of luck;) megan H.

Thank you so much gt4everpn! I have have some very bad experiences with people pre-judging me because of my age also. I have now decided that with this new job I am starting I will not so much as whisper any hint to what my age is. I think the fact that you and I are 18 and 19 year old nurse's says a lot about us. And for people to put us down because of our age is just plain mean. Best of luck to you! Your post here really made me feel a million times more confident. I was starting to think I was the only young nurse on this whole website, lol. Tons and tons of luck to you in the future. And thank you again for posting your response. I feel much better now. megan H.

I am a relatively new nurse. I've worked for 10 months now and have nursing home experience. I recently took a position through an agency where I will mostly be working 3rd shift in nursing homes. My medpass skills are wonderful. Treatments are no problem for me. The only anxiety I have is about emergency situations. I have never had to deal with an emergency before, and working 3rd shift I will be the only nurse on my unit. What I'm basically asking is for advice and maybe some reading material so that I am prepared for emergencies. For example, common emergent situations, when and if to call doctors and family members. When to get 911 involved, and what things can be notified to the next shift only. Things like that. Obviously if someone can't breathe or is bleeding to death then both 911 and the doc need to be called. That's a no-brainer. But there are so many other situations that can happen that aren't so obvious to a new nurse. I realize that some things, such as a foley falling out, can be looked up in the policies and procedure manual. But any advice and reading material that you all can give me would be GREATLY appreciated. I realize that a lot of agency nurses already know all the answers. But this company hires new nurses, and I do have almost a year under my belt. I'm not a monkey. I learn quite easily. I got my LPN at age 17- I consider myself to be pretty smart. I'm just looking for some advice. Thanks to everyone that offers their help. :redpinkhe

Maybe I am getting in a little over my head here, but I know that I can succeed. Knowledge isn't just knowing the answers, it's knowing where to find the answers. Through advice and good reference resources I know I can handle anything. That's why I'm here asking the advice of my peers.

So if someone goes hypoglycemic or if someone falls and then they end up ok, do I still call the doctor or wait until 1st shift comes in? And if someone does need to be sent out what do I do? Call 911, then the doctor, and then the family? I'm so scared something bad will happen because if it does I have absolutely no idea what to do.